Albert Godden

Albert Godden was born on 28 December 1856 at Eastbourne, Sussex, England.1 He was the son of Sophia Godden. Albert Godden was baptized on 29 March 1857 at Holy Trinity, Eastbourne, Sussex, England.2Albert Godden was also known as George. There is a baptism of a George Godden, 29 Mar 1857 to Michael and Sophie Godden who is very likely to be Albert as Sophia had a habit of giving her illegitimate children one name at birth and another at baptism (see also Charles Godden born 1859). I could not find a Michael and Sophie anywhere (no marriage, no more baptisms, etc) so I thought it could be an illegitimate child of Sophie who through embarrassment made up a name for the father (using her own father's name).

Ann Elizabeth Godden

Ann Elizabeth Godden was born on 3 June 1865 at 1 Duke St, Eastbourne, Sussex, England.1 She was the daughter of William Godden and Ann Elizabeth Humphries. Ann Elizabeth Godden was baptized on 12 June 1866 at Brighton, Sussex, England. On 2 April 1871 Ann Elizabeth Godden lived at 17 Elder Place, Brighton, Sussex, England, with her parents and family.2 Annie's father William Godden was a fireman with the South Coast Railway Company, in the days of steam trains. Her mother Ann Elizabeth Godden (nee Humphries) died when Annie was 7 years old and her father appears to have remarried a woman named Fanny from Storrington, although a marriage certificate has not been found. In the 1881 census for Brighton they are living at 51 Hanover Street: William and Fanny, Annie (16 years), brother Alfred (15 years), sister Emma (12 years) and niece Jane Baker (5 years). The presence of his niece indicates that William must have had a reasonably close relationship with his family in Eastbourne as the earlier 1871 census also shows another member of the family, Alfred Godden age 19 years (also a fireman on the railway), living with them. Alfred was the illegitimate son of William's sister Emma (who never married) and was raised by his grandparents Michael and Ruth Godden. William possibly helped him get the job with the railway. William and Ann named two of their children Emma and Alfred which is another indication of their close relationship. Two of William's other sisters (Sophia and Elizabeth) had four illegitimate children, and census records indicate that they were also left with the grandparents to be raised - the new husbands possibly objecting to raising them or providing for them. An understanding of this period in Eastbourne, and the impact of poverty on families, can be found in reading the book "George Meek: Bath Chairman - By Himself" by George Meek. George was the brother in law of Annie's mother Ann Elizabeth Godden (nee Humphries alias Knibbs) whose father Benjamin raised George Meek and whose life is well described in the book. The book was published in 1910 with a preface by the famous author H.G. Wells. On 3 April 1881 Ann Elizabeth Godden lived at 51 Hanover St, Brighton, Sussex, England, with her family.3 On 28 August 1890 Ann Elizabeth Godden lived at 51 Hanover St, Brighton, Sussex, England.4Ann Elizabeth Godden married Charles Richard Griffiths, son of William Griffiths and Margaret Day, on 28 August 1890 at The Parish Church, Brighton, Sussex, England.4 On 5 April 1891 Ann Elizabeth Godden and Charles Richard Griffiths lived at 51 Stanley Rd, Preston, Brighton, Sussex, England.5 On 31 March 1901 Ann Elizabeth Godden and Charles Richard Griffiths lived at 1 Exeter St, Brighton, Sussex, England.6 On 2 April 1911 Ann Elizabeth Godden and Charles Richard Griffiths lived at 21 Exeter St, Brighton, Sussex, England.7 The 1911 census states that Charles and Annie had four children with one having died. In 1917, Annie's son Fred was killed in WW1. The following photo was taken about that time. According to her daughter, Victoria May, the Salvation Army took Annie to France to visit his grave after the war. This photo of Annie was probably taken c1930, not long before she died.Ann Elizabeth Godden died on 26 January 1932 at 21 Exeter St, Brighton, Sussex, England, at age 66. She died of acute bronchitis.8Ann Elizabeth Godden was buried on 1 February 1932 at Grave XC 909, Brighton Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex, England.